NBPA and 5 other sports unions team up for mental-health awareness
In their latest effort to invest resources, raise awareness and
build a safe space for the wellness of the professional athlete
community, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), National Basketball
Players Association (NBPA), NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA), MLB
Players Association (MLBPA), MLS Players Association (MLSPA) and
Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) announced a
collaborative campaign on Monday for May’s Mental Health Awareness
Month.
The emotional well-being and mental challenges of athletes have
often been ignored or swept under the competitive fabric of sports.
By coming together in the name of mental health and wellness, these
six professional sports unions are demonstrating their ongoing,
unified commitment to prioritize this important issue among their
players while empowering the broader community to do the same.
The month-long initiative aims to normalize mental health as a
vital component to our general, physical health that touches people
in all walks of life, including athletes. Through player quotes
from members of the various sports unions as well as tips and
resources shared by wellness experts, several themes will thread
together the social media-driven campaign: mental health is a
driver of performance; mental health is a team game; mental health
is about recovery and resilience; and how to be a mental health
advocate.
Along with championing inspirational stories of hope from athletes,
these sports unions will also highlight the various mental-health
undertakings led by them and their player members. This
demonstration of shared support for mental health will not only
reinforce the human side of sports but also further the push to
provide both athletes and their communities with the necessary
wellness resources.
“In the spirit of solidarity, the National Football League Players Association, National Basketball Players Association, National Hockey League Players’ Association, Major League Baseball Players Association, Major League Soccer Players Association and Women’s National Basketball Players Association have come together for the first time in collaboration to recognize the importance of our players’ mental health and wellness,” the six sports unions said in a joint statement.
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